“Scarcity”

By Devon Falls

She drank slow, savoring the Parisian Red in her mouth before swallowing. She had lifted her head back, exposing her thin and sun-kissed neck, opening her eye just barely to catch him looking. Good.  The restaurant was quiet, her choice, and dimly lit, also her choice.  Not many guests, but not fully empty. It had the appearance of being busy while also allowing privacy. It was rare to find such places in the city, but Eve had been searching for a very long time.

“Enjoy your wine?” he asked. Was it Tim? John? She internally shrugged at giving up on remembering his name. It didn’t matter anyway.

“Yes.” she replied, tossing her raven colored curls behind her head.  Another look from him. She smirked.  Why was it so easy? She heard his heartbeat quicken as he eyes stole a glance at the middle of her low cut blouse. Oh, that’s why.

Eve made up a question to feign interest and get him talking, while she studied his face. Square jaw, broad shouldered. Five o’clock shadow. Ebony skin like lacquered mahogany wood. 

“You ok?” Something-or-other said. Eve caught herself, her jaw slightly open, eyes fixated on his mouth.

“Oh, yes!” She lied, raising her voice an octave to keep the lie and play childish embarrassment.

He laughed and rubbed his bald head, also lacquered.  “You’re cute when you blush.” Yes, know me. Believe you see the inner me. Believe you own a part of it.

“Oh, really?” Eve made a slight look away and blushed more. It was really her cheeks flaring from hunger.

She saw his face relax. The first date jitters were dispersing. He was getting comfortable around her. Very good.

Something-or-other out of respect asked about her job, and what she does for fun.  Eve had to remember which profile he had connected with for a second, but soon was steady in spinning the story of her false identity: how she was a Vet assistant, and she worked with the homeless to provide dinner. Partly true, they did provide dinner. She could see his eyes gleam with a sign of pride; that he found a “good one.” She looked away, she couldn't stomach looking at the naiveté anymore.

“I wish more people were like you, I wish I was actually...” His voice got quiet and he lowered his head. Oh God...Eve curled her lip.

“I...was homeless as a kid.” Here we go…

“I..I don’t know why I’m telling you this- I just feel like I can open up to you, you know?” They all do.

“It’s ok.” Eve replied warmly, reaching out her hand and slowly placing it on top of his. Her nostrils flared at the touch of his skin.  She gritted her teeth, feeling a slight wash of saliva build in the back of her mouth. He was tearing up. Now was the time.

“Hey,” she said, rubbing his knuckles tenderly, softly, like a mother.

“Wanna get outta here?”

Something-or-other looked at her for a moment, and then nodded and said,

“Yes.” GREAT.

The Uber drive was quiet, and Eve looked over at Something-or-other, making sure everything was going as expected. He looked back at her, and smiled. Eve frowned. Granted, they usually show a face of happiness, lust mostly. But his smile was…

“Thanks. For listening. I...I don’t...I don’t expect anything, tonight.”

She heard his heartbeat. It was calm. He was telling the truth. No, no this isn’t right.  It’s a lie.

Eve made a false smile, and leaned over to him. She ‘dropped’ her lipstick near his boots, and reached down to grab it. Her low neckline top slipped even lower, as she knew it would, as she came back up.  She frowned again. He was looking in her eyes, his heartbeat unchanged.  They exchanged a smile and Eve looked away while putting away her lipstick, her face glowering in the reflection of the respective passenger window.

They arrived at their destination, and they both got out.  “You live...here?” Something-or-other said.  “Here” was the docks, with stacks of shipping containers set in between ports and trading ships in the pier.  

“Yes,” she said, not looking at him.  “Come.” she commanded.  He did, reluctantly.

They turned a few corners, and then Eve walked into a shaded area, into the darkness between two containers. 

“Just here.” she said, her lips quivering, feeling the saliva drip down her lips, her muscles become taut, the heat in her heart and loins spark alight.

“O-ok…” he took a step forward. “Are-are you sur-” Too long. 

She wrenched him into the darkness, her hand, now clawed with nails as long as kitchen knives, ripping into his dress shirt and gripping his skin with ferocity. With ease she lurched him into the sheet metal side of the container, the crash creating a booming sound reverberating into the silent night.  He screamed; her drooling mouth smiled wider and wicked at the sound of his inconsequential voice crying out.  She squeezed harder, lifting him off his feet. In desperation he grabbed her arm to break free, but it was iron; he couldn’t move.  Like a rabbit caught in a trap were his eyes fully open, scared, staring into hers. He saw the sunburst color of them, their real color. He saw the cat-like slits her irises had become, and he whimpered.

Eve let out a breath, a sigh of relief, a heaving of pent up delusion now making way to the truth.  That this was good. Felt good. Was needed. Was the only way to feel.

“Why?” he said, weakly.

“WHY?” she responded, her voice echoing in the night, as if the night itself spoke in chorus to her power.

“BECAUSE-” a small thought passed by. The dark. A man. Ripping. Tearing of clothes. Of flesh. Pain. Powerless.  Teeth. Piercing. Blood. Awake. Alone. ALONE. ALONE.

Eve let out a small whine, like a hurt dog, and looked away from him.  He heard her breathing, shallow, inconsistent. Confused.  He felt her grip get lighter.

“It-it’s ok…” he said, despite the pain.

She immediately turned back, her face contorted in rage.  He moaned out as her grip on him became steel again.

“NO. NOT OK. NEVER OK.”  Her words were robotic, bestial.

She saw his face get soft. His body stopped struggling. “It’s ok…” he said again. She couldn’t stop it. Tears started to stream down her face. She heard his heartbeat again. It was calm. It’s ok…

Eve looked down, and saw the tears drop on the pavement. She slowly let go of him and let his feet drop onto the ground.  And with a shove she lunged forward and bit into his neck.